The length of the body is measured from the point of the shoulder or forechest in front of the withers to the rump. Who else would find fur game and reveal its location to the master if not “pikinokka”, the Finnish Spitz with its pitch black nose. As the national dog of Finland, this breed has long beenrecognized in Scandinavian countries but was not imported to the United States until 1959 with the first breeding in the 1960's. Another exception is the hair under the bottom of the feet. Tel +358 50 407 8484info@kennelsaatio.fi, The Finnish Spitz - National Treasure of Finland, The Finnish Spitz barks in the cultural history as a symbol of Finnishness, The Finnish Spitz is bred from a native landrace, Over one hundred years of association history of the Finnish Spitz. It can be obedience trained, if the owner has an air of natural, gentle, calm, authority to them. The Finnish Spitz is as active breed that needs plenty of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. They're Bark Hunters. They should be trained with a light touch and positive reinforcement methods. The Finnish Spitz is often referred to as the “barking hunting dog” because of its characteristic continuous barking while on track. DOG BREED INFORMATION – FINNISH SPITZ Origin: Finland Alternate names: Barking Bird Dog, Finnish Hunting Dog, Finnish Spets, Finsk Spets, Loulou Finois, Suomalainen Pystykorva, Suomenpystykorva Size: Medium Life Span: 12-15 years Popularity: Ranked #177 in 2017 Availability in India: Moderate Avg Puppy Price in India: ₹18,000 and above Dog Breed Group: Non-Sporting Group Most Finnish Spitzes get along well with other dogs in the house. [10] There is no preference for a particular shade as long as the color is bright and clear with no hints of dullness. It has a dense auburn coat and fox-like features. It is quick on the mark and capable of doing independent and confident decisions. Finnish Kennel Club has revised the breed standard six times, and the latest version was confirmed in 1996. The Finnish Spitz is a medium sized hunting dog from Finland. The Finnish Spitz tends to be protective; males have more domineering traits than females. It is a dog that retains a great connection with its master in the forest. Male dogs should sport a slightly longer and coarser coat than female ones, who have a slightly more refined coat. Shedding and Grooming In fact, they're the nation's official dog. And the dog has a lot to say for itself too…. Here at East Winds Finnish Spitz we breed for health, temperament, and correctness we work closely with many other breeders to keep our bloodlines strong and healthy. Isolated Finno-Ugrian tribes in the far northern regions bred dogs according to their specific needs. The Finnish Spitz is the national dog of Finland where he was developed to hunt game birds, squirrel and even large game such as elk and bear. About Us. In Finland, these dogs are prized for their barking abilities, which can range from short, sharp barks to many barks per minute that sound like a yodel. The Finnish Spitz barks at birds up in trees and is therefore an original rarity in the world. However, in North America, they are primarily companion dogs. The woods and the waters were almost exclusively the only places that provided food. Although a dog may look fluffy and full, excessive undercoat may be causing serious skin problems. It has the conformation and temperament to hunt actively and tirelessly under the coldest of conditions. The real Finnish Spitz man in Finland is only really contented alone with his dog in the forest. The breed is friendly and in general loves children, so it is suitable for domestic life. This breed was bred by the Finno-Ugrian tribes who bred these dogs according to their specific requirements. The hair under the feet as well as the toe nails should be nicely trimmed for show. However, the most crucial aspect of training this breed is the technique followed and the method of training to be adopted. These breeds are associated with high latitudes - the Siberian husky and Greenland dog that are also associated with arctic human populations, and to a lesser extent the Shar Pei and the Karelo-Finnish Laika. Perinteistä metsästystä suomenpystykorvien kanssa harrastavien metsästäjien ryhmä. The breed remained pure, not by design but by isolation until the early 1800s. Finnish Spitz. [2], Nearly all dog breeds’ genetic closeness to the gray wolf is due to admixture. The front dewclaws can be removed, if desired.[9]. The coat is usually at its darkest shade on the back of the dog, gradually getting lighter around the chest and belly. A small patch of white, no more than 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) wide, is allowable on the chest, and white tips on the feet are acceptable, but not desired. It is square-proportioned, and without exaggeration, quick and light on its feet. Though Finnish Spitz … Its primary use was as a hunting dog, a heritage it honors to this day. If back claws appear, they should be removed. 02770 Espoo, Finland The color of the adult dog can be assessed by an experienced breeder at birth, but even then, the color may change slightly as the puppy grows. In their native Finland, Finnish Spitz dogs are still used primarily for hunting, while their role in America is more of a companion dog. The Finnish Spitz is a traditional hunting dog of Finland, which goes by the Finnish Cock-Eeared Dog and the Finnish Barking Birddog.This breed nearly went extinct by the late 19 th century, which led to reconstruction efforts via the remaining population of native stock.. Both sexes should appear slightly longer in the leg than the back. The breed makes an excellent family pet. [13], The breed barks at anything perceived to be out of the ordinary. The Finnish Spitz is also used as a retrieving dog for instance in duck hunting. These dogs were bred for hunting in the harsh … The dog takes care of its safety by keeping the distance to its master at a few hundred metres at the most. [7], The nose, lips, and rims of eyes should always be black.[7]. However, breeders should be consulted to understand the prevalence of a specific disorder in this breed. The Finnish Spitz can bark as many as 160 times per minute. He realized the many virtues of the pure Finnish Spitz breed and decided to select dogs that were untainted examples of the genuine Finnish Spitz in order to try to revive the breed. On my recent trip to Finland I found myself being driven from south east Finland to Lappland, where for three days we stayed in a hunting lodge on the edge of a lake accompanied by a Finnish Spitz and a Nordic Spitz. In Scandinavia, a competition is held to find the "King of the Barkers." The Finnish Spitz (or “Finkies” as their fans call them) probably got their start as watchdogs and camp followers of the indigenous peoples of what is now Finland. Puppies. The club is also working for including the hunting experience with the Finnish Spitz on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.[8]. CKC Breed Description Origin. In its native country, the breed is still mostly used as a hunting dog. Th… He has a special love for children and will spend countless hours romping and playing. This feature is clear in some dogs even today. The currency unit at the time was called “kiihtelys” which included 40 squirrel skins. Some Finnish Spitz are … We raise all of our pups with “Puppy Culture” protocols. They are always ready to play with children but if ignored, they will usually walk away. Traditionally it has been used for herding reindeer.Although it is one of the most popular dog breeds in its native country, Finland, it is not very numerous outside of the Nordic countries Proper care of the coat is most important. As the name suggests, the Finnish Spitz was developed in Finland and it shares much of its history with other Spitz-type breeds that were developed in the Arctic region. The coat should be stiffer, denser, and longer on the neck, back, back of thighs, and plume of the tail, shorter on the head and legs. The pluma of the tail is important to the overall look of the dog but should not be too long. It should be shaded and without any defined color changes. Today the Finnish Spitz is used mostly for hunting grouse birds, although it can be used when hunting elk and small game, such as pine marten and raccoon dogs, as well. Today the Finnish Spitz is used mostly for hunting grouse birds, although it can be used when hunting elk and small game, such as pine marten … The Finnish Spitz (Finnish: suomenpystykorva) is a breed of dog originating in Finland. It is a "bark pointer", indicating the position of game by barking, and drawing the game animal's attention to itself, allowing an easier approach for the hunter. The Finnish Spitz is a wonderful family dog, as well as a hunting dog. It has always been considered as a dog that is capable of hunting any kind of game, and is therefore very easily trained to do so. This fearless breed loves to hunt and makes a devoted and friendly companion to its chosen person. Below is a short list of what is known to occur: Kristiina Mannermaa, Pirkko Ukkonen & Suvi Viranta The Finnish Spitz has the distinction of being the national dog of Finland, where this ancient hunting breed is still used to hunt a wide variety of game. The coat should never be a solid color. Wobbling its light-coloured tail, the dog charmed the bird to remain in tree so that the master had enough time to find the tree and shoot the bird with his bow. It was developed by the Finno-Ugrian hunting tribes approximately 2.000 years ago. The Finnish Spitz originated from ancestral northern spitz dogs that accompanied early Finno-Ugrian tribes as they journeyed across Eurasia to Finland. The Finnish Spitz blows coat or loses its undercoat twice a year. The pointed muzzle, erect ears, dense coat and curled tail denotes its northern heritage. The breed was originally bred to hunt all types of game from squirrels and other rodents to bears. The Finnish Spitz developed almost a passionate relationship with hunting squirrel and pine marten. When the Spitz barks at the tree its handsome wobbly tail “enchants” the bird. The lively finnish spitz, the flame-colored, foxy-faced breed from the “Land of 60,000 Lakes,” is a small but fearless hunting dog whose unique style of tracking … The Finnish Spitz originated from ancestral northern spitz dogs that accompanied early Finno-Ugrian … In 1979, when the club celebrated its 90th anniversary, the Finnish Spitz was declared Finland's national dog breed. This indicates admixture between the Taymyr wolf population and the ancestral dog population of these 4 high-latitude breeds. These dogs probably originated as camp followers and watchdogs, later developing into hunting dogs. A fawn-colored puppy or one with a large amount of white of the chest is not preferable for show purposes. The Finnish Spitz is well known as a bird dog, specifically used for hunting grouse and a turkey-like bird called the capercaillie. [6], By 1880, as advanced means of transportation brought diverse peoples and their dogs together, Finnish Spitzes mated with other breeds of dogs, and were becoming extinct as a distinct breed. Its original game hunting purpose was to point to game that fled into trees, such as grouse, and capercaillies, but it also serves well for hunting elk. Like cats, for example. The Finnish Spitz is friendly, active, playful, keen and courageous. Some individuals have even been known to go after a bear. Finnish Spitz are hunting dogs, which means they have strong instincts to chase and seize other animals that run. [1] It is a "bark pointer", indicating the position of game by barking, and drawing the game animal's attention to itself, allowing an easier approach for the hunter. The Finnish spitz is used to hunt small game and birds and is known as the "barking bird dog" because it points hunters to game by barking. Puppies are often described as looking similar to a red fox cub. Because the breed is built for long hunts, Finkies need plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy. In Finland, this dog is known as the Suomenpystykorva and it is the country’s national dog breed – he has also been known as the Finnish Barking Bird Dog due to his unique vocal tendencies. The breed was originally bred to hunt all types of game from squirrels and other rodents to bears. Most Finnish Spitz have a preferred side and this is not incorrect. Life has thought the Finnish Spitz that the greatest threat in the woods is a wolf. [16] This breed will not respond well to harsh training methods. Its most important feature is its loyalty towards its master, both at home and in the woods. Finnish Spitzes are independent, strong-willed, intelligent dogs. Barking is a major part of their hunting activities. The Finnish Spitz (Finnish: suomenpystykorva) is a breed of dog originating in Finland. It is still fascinated by mice and moles, since these creatures used to be its primary nutrition back in the day. When used as a hunting companion, the barking is a way to signal the hunter that the dog has located prey in the forest. The Finnish Spitz has a typical double coat, which consists of a soft, dense undercoat and long, harsh guard hairs that can measure 2.5 to 5 cm (one to two inches) long. Suomenpystykorvalla metsästys, Hunting with finnish spitz. This introgression could have provided early dogs living in high latitudes with phenotypic variation beneficial for adaption to a new and challenging environment. It is an independent breed and will be attached to its family while remaining aloof with strangers. If … Follow us: The Finnish Spitz . The outer coat should not exceed 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) at the ruff. In Finland, he's known as the Suomenpystykorva (pronounced SWOH-men-pi-stih-KOR-vuh), which means Finnish Pricked Ear Dog, and he can't compete there for a show title until he has proved himself in hunting trials. The Finnish Spitz is typically a very healthy breed, with few general health concerns. [3] However, several Arctic dog breeds show a genetic closeness with the now-extinct Taymyr wolf of North Asia due to admixture. The Finnish Spitz in particular was bred from Spitz-type breeds found in Russia thousands of years ago, used by Finno-Urgian tribes for hunting small game. The Finnish Spitz presents a fox-like picture. The Finnish Spitz was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1992. They are best trained with a soft voice and touch. It is imperative that owners brush out the old undercoat so the new coat can grow properly. Dogs of this breed have moderate training requirements, which primarily include training for hunting, respect training, socialization and basic mannerisms. We have come to an age when the dog is instructed with the rules and regulations that are related to its master’s competitiveness. The Spitz was brave and independent enough to confront and hunt the bear: many skins were hanged to dry, thanks to the dog’s barking. It was mainly the Spitz that used to be in charge of getting money – with other words, fur. Our pups are well socialized, confident, loving companions. That is, they hunt by barking; they don't hunt tree bark. The proper conformation is a square build, meaning that the length of the body is the same or slightly shorter than the height of the withers to the ground. They are born dark grey, black, brown, or fawn with a vast amount of black. This breed will not adapt well to a strictly kenneled living situation; they need a balance of outdoor exercise and indoor play time with the family.[11]. PREHISTORY AND EARLY HISTORY OF DOGS IN FINLAND, Fennoscandia archaeologica XXXI (2014)-, Origin of the domestic dog § Arctic breeds, "Genome Sequencing Highlights the Dynamic Early History of Dogs", "Ancient Wolf Genome Reveals an Early Divergence of Domestic Dog Ancestors and Admixture into High-Latitude Breeds", "The Finnish Spitz is bred from a native landrace", "Individual Breed Results for Purebred Dog Health Survey", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Finnish_Spitz&oldid=999062643, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Males: 44.5 to 50.8 cm (17½ to 20 inches), Females: 39.4 to 45.7 cm (15½ to 18 inches), This page was last edited on 8 January 2021, at 09:01. He's also been called the Finnish Barking Bird Dog because of h… The remains of dogs that have been found in Finland and dated from 8,000 years ago are similar in size and shape to Spitz-type dogs. Some individuals have eve… It is a dog with veiled intelligence, and it has a strong instinct to hunt all types of game. Dew claws can appear on front and/or back feet. The dogs have been bred to develop their barking behavior, and barking contests are held in Finland. Finnish Spitz are an active and lively breed of dogs and can be trained to be the perfect pets as well hunting dogs. In their native Finland, Finnish Spitz are still used for hunting, mostly for a large game bird called a capercaille and for black grouse. [15] They can be trained to reduce the amount of barking,[7] although the barking does make them superb watchdogs. While the Finnish Spitz is intensively focusing on its job to bark a wolf can easily find and surprise it. Height at withers (American Kennel Club breed standard[10]): This breed is active, alert and lively. The Finnish Spitz developed almost a passionate relationship with hunting squirrel and pine marten. In the process of selective breeding, they were using the ancient Spitz-type dogs they brought with them while migrating from the river Volga region in central Russia. The Finnish Spitz has been the national dog of Finland since 1979. As compared to other hunting dogs, the Finnish Spitz is a very small dog and does not take on the prey like some other breeds of dogs do. The origin of the Finnish Spitz lies in Finland where they were used for hunting animals. When the Finnish Spitz locates the bird, it barks very loudly while pointing in the direction of the bird to alert the hunter to the bird’s location. Today the Finnish Spitz has learned to understand and apply its instinct to hunt. Some exhibitors choose to show dogs with excessive undercoat to make the dog's coat appear more lush. Kamreerintie 8 [1] Thirty years of careful breeding resulted in the modern Finnish Spitz; the dogs are descendants of his original foundation stock. Feathered long tail hairs without sustenance can give the dog an unkempt look. Long walks, backyard playtime, and hunting are all great ways to get your dog moving. [7] It also indicates the ancestry of present-day dog breeds descends from more than one region. They are bred as a hunting dog and thus are unreliable around small animals and pet birds, but on an individual basis may live well with cats, especially if they are raised with them. [4], The Finnish Spitz developed from selectively bred Spitz-type dogs that inhabited central Russia several thousand years ago. The Finnish Spitz was once inexpensive to support. With patience and calm yet firm handling, the Finnish Spitz can be a wonderful companion. May 4, 2020 By Sarah Holloway Leave a Comment. Since it barks and attracts the hunters to indicate the position of the game, it is also known as “Bark Pointers.” Ordinary hunting with finnish spitz. Resources. [12] As with all dogs, young children and dogs should always be supervised when together. Males are decidedly masculine without coarseness. The Finnish Spitz whole being shows liveliness, which is especially evident in the eyes, ears and tail. The Finnish Spitz dog or Suomenpystykorva (in Finnish) is a primitive breed originating from Finland. The breed has long been used to hunt small game and birds. They need one or two long walks each day and will be fairly inactive indoors. The Finnish Spitz is renowned as a hunting dog, and also makes a great companion for family members … Females are usually a little longer in the back than males. The Finnish Spitz has a foxlike appearance, incorporating the typical traits of a Northern breed: small erect ears, dense double coat and curled tail. The Finnish spitz is an integral part of the Finnish hunting tradition. Ever increasing in popularity, the Finnish Spitz originated as a hunting dog in Finland. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. [7], The adult color is typically a golden-red with variations from pale honey to dark chestnut. Contact . In the woods for instance, using its clear bark the dog informed its master about the location of the bird. Photo: Hannu Huttu The hunting tradition and the hunting method of using Finnish spitzes are kept alive by individual dog owners, organisations, associations and scholars dedicated to the breed. In its native Finland, this breed is known as the Suomenpystykorva, which means “Finnish cock-eared hunting dog.” Fortunately for our tongues, it’s known as the Finnish Spitz … Romping and playing that owners brush out the old undercoat so the new coat can grow.! In other words, the Finnish Spitz is well known as a hunting dog praise... Females are usually a little longer in the forest regions bred dogs according to their specific requirements and. 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